Coffee making apparatus



Aug. 13, 1935. i A. F. FISHER ETAL Y COFFEE mme APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4a "1% m' g e 7" $1 1 disc/lair? flak ATTRNEY Aug. 13, 1935. A. F. FISHER El AL COFFEE KING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1 935 4 l UNITED STATES PATENT orFicE COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS Albert F. Fisher, Brighton, and Howard H. Schott, I Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Robeson-Rochester Corporation. Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 24, 1934, Serial No. 708,120 2 Claims. (C1. 533) This invention relates to coffee making appais mounted a water container or receptacle ll ratus, and more particularly to domestic coffee provided with a suitable and convenient handle making apparatus such as is commonly used i l2, and a removable cover l3 which,'in the emthe home, by means of which variable quantities bodiment here s wn. may be ma t r ly of 6 of coffee beverage can be made, glass having the shape and characteristics best 6 When using various types of domestic coffee understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. making apparatus, such, for example, as percola- At the lower part of the water container H is tors, the user frequently does not wish to make a heating l f m which rises a in the maximum quantity of beverage which can be tube on the upp nd f which s removably made in the particular apparatus at hand. Difiimounted a coffee basket or cep a le I 1 r h d 10 culty may be encountered by f il t estimate ing ground coffee in known manner, so that as I properly the correct m t of water and of water is heated in the well (5, it is forced up ground coffee to be placed in the apparatus for through the fountain tube is and Sp d 6V8! producing the desired amount of beverage, and the coffee in the Teceptacle n, seeping down difficulty also occurs with regard t t m 1 through the coffee and through perforations in 15 t, th percolatqr or other apparatus somethe bottom of the receptacle in order to extract times being turned off too soon or allowed to heat the essence from the ground coffee and make too long. beverage in the manner commonly done in coffee The present invention has 'for its object the making apparatus o t e type frequently known 30 provision of improved apparatus with which even as percolatorsinexperienced persons can make variable amounts According to the Present invention, gradua of coffee beverage, a d i d th guesswork tions are provided in connection with the water and without having unsatisfactory results. It is, container H and the coffee receptacle for accordingly, another object of t invention 6 dicating the various extents to which these reprovide apparatus graduated t h t correct spective articles should be filled in order to make 25 amounts of water and coffee to be placed in the any desired q y of c beverage, Within pp ratus for producin any desired quantity of the range or limit of the particular apparatus. In coffee beverage, and al t provide means f r the embodiment here shown, by way of example, indicating the proper length of time for heatin the apparatus will make a maximum of eight cups when it is desired to produce various quantities of beverage and the graduatiohs associated with 30 of beverage. the water receptacle I l are arranged on the. foun- To these and other ends the invention resides will tube as indicated at 20 in refin certain improvements d combinations of erably these graduations bear indicia reading parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully dedirectly in terms of num of ps f v ra e.

scribed, the novel features being pointed out in p the l t fountain tube is 35 the claims at the end of th specification, may include the numeral "2" at one elevation so In the drawings: placed that when the container II is' filled with Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken substantially water up to t evel of the numeral there centrally through coffee making apparatus con- Will be Slightly more than tW C p of Water in 40 structed in accordance with a preferred embodthe container. sufficient o a o p of 40 iment of the invention; beverage. Somewhat above this numeral 2'? is Fig. 2 is an elevation, with parts broken away e graduation cat t e p ope po o and parts in vertical section, of the coii e basket wh ch to fi the cep e II n o der t mak .or receptacle forming a part of the apparatus four cups of beverage. Similarly, above this. are

shown in Fig. 1; the respective graduations 6 and B. In addi 5 Fig. 3'is a diagrammatic plan of part of the tion to the numeral itself, each graduation may mechanism in' one position; also comprise a more or less conspicuous line ex- Fig. v. is a similar view showing the mechatending around the fountain tube l6 at the elevanism in another position, and tion of the numeral, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the heating of the drawings. 50

element and switch for controlling it. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to The same reference numerals throughout the estimatethe quantity of water by guess, nor to several views indicate the same parts measure it out by means of a measuring cup. A11

The drawings show, by way of example. coffee that it is necessary to do is for the user, with the 56 making apparatus comprising a base I0, on which fountain tube 16 in place, and with the cover I3 and coffee basket ll removed, to pour water into the container ll until the water level reaches the desired graduation indicating the number of cups of coffee which it is desired to make. The word .cup,-i as herein used as a measure of volume or in the form of numerals of the same numerical value asthe numerals on the'fountain tube l6, and the numerals themselves may be supplemented by further graduations in the form of grooves or lines 23 extending circumferentially around the coffee basket at the respective elevations of the numerals 22. These graduations 22 and 23 indicate the proper extent to which to fill the coffee receptacle I1 with ground coffee in order to make any desired number of cups of beverage, the numerals 22 reading directly in terms of number of cups.

For example, if it is desired to make two cups of coffee, the water container H is filled with water up to the elevation of the numeral 2 of the graduations 20 which are associated with this water container, this elevation being indicated by the dash line 25 in Fig. 1. The coffee basket I! is filled with properly ground coffee up to the elevation of the graduation 2 of the series of graduations 22 associated with the coffee basket. Such a quantity of ground coffee is indicated diagrammatically at 26 in Fig. 1. Thus, without the necessity of using any measuring implements or of guessing at approximate quantities, the user of the apparatus knows that the proper quantity of water and the proper quantity of coffee have been placed in the apparatus to make two cups of beverage. Similarly if any other desired number of cups of beverage are to be made, the water container and coffee basket are filled to the proper elevations indicated by the numerals of their respective graduations, reading directly in terms of number of cups. Y

In the base ll) of the apparatus is an electric heating element 30 for heating the water in the well l in known manner. Below this heating element 30 is timing mechanism indicated in general at 35 in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, which timing mechanism is of any suitable form settable to run for various difierent selective periods of time, and after running for the selected length,

of time, to operate a signal, or throw a switch,'or the like.

In the form here shown the timing mechanism includes a disk 40 connected to a setting arm 4| accessible from the exterior of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1. The disk 40 is operatively connected to a gear train, indicated diagrammatically and in general by the numeral 42, which is controlled by any suitable means, such as the escapement pallet 43. A spring is operatively connected in known manner to the disk 40 to tend to turn this disk in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the top, as in Figs. 3 and 4, the turning movement under the influence of the spring being slowed down or retarded by the gear train 42 and escapement pallet 43 so that the disk 40 turns only relatively slowly and at a uniform rate.

When the disk 40 reaches a predetermined position in its counterclockwise rotation, it operates a signal, or throws a switch, or both. For example, at the predetermined point, a pin 45 on one arm of a bell crank lever 46 may drop into a notch in the disk 40 so that the bell crank lever may also carry switch contact elements 50 which,

when the pin 45 is not in the notch of the disk 60, contact with the circuit elements 5| and complete a circuit between them, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. When the pin 45 drops into the notch of the disk 40, however, the turning of the bell crank lever 46 throws the elements 50 carried thereby out of contact with the circuit elements 5|, and thus breaks the circuit, as shown in Fig, 4 of the drawings.

The circuit elements 5| may form part of an electric circuit leading to theheating element, being interposed, for example, in a conductor 53 (Fig. 5) leading from any suitable source of electric energy to one end of a resistance element 54 which forms part of the heating member 30, another conductor 55 leading from the source of current to the other end of the resistance 54.

According to the present invention, the timing mechanism has associated with it suitable graduations, or scale means, for indicating the position to which it should be set in order to have it operate for the required time interval appropriate to the amount of beverage to be made. When, for example, only two cups of coffee are to be made, it takes less time to heat the water initially and to percolate the coffee after heating, than it does if, for example, six or eight cups of beverage are to be made.

In the preferred embodiment, the graduations are in the form of numerals 60 conspicuously formed on an arcuate plate 6| fastened to the setting lever ll and moved therewith, the respective numerals 60 being observable through a window-62 formed at a suitable point-in the base 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The numerals 60 preferably are graduated, like the graduations 20 and 22, to read directly in terms of number of cups of coffee to be made.

From the preceding description, it is seen that if the setting lever 6| be moved leftward to turn the disk 40 in a clockwise direction, and then released, the above mentioned spring connected to the disk 40 will turn the disk back in a counterclockwise direction until, near the end of its movemert, the pin 45 drops into the notch on the disk. The extent to which the setting lever 41 is moved leftwardly from its normal or rest position determines the length of time during which the timing mechanism will operate before the pin 45 drops into the notch and gives the signal, or opens the switch, orboth. The graduations 60 on the plate 6| are so placed with reference to the window 62 that when, for example, the numeral 2 of the graduations 60 is observable through the window 62, the lever 4! is set in proper position so that the timing mechanism operates approximately long enough to allow time for making two cups of coffee. Similarly, if the lever M be moved slightly farther to the left until the numeral 4" appears through the window 62, the timing mechanism will operate for a somewhat greater interval, allowing sufficient time for the making of four cups of coffee, and so on with the other graduations.

A conspicuous indication, such as shown at 65,

lever It with the end '1 of a slot 68 through which the lever extends, just after the pin 45 drops into the notch. A line 69, of any suitable form, may also be placed on the plate 6| between the indication 65 and the first of the numerical graduations B0. Whenever this line 69 appears through the window 62, it will indicate that the timing mechanism is not in its normal position of rest but, if running, still has some distance to go. When the indication appears through the window 62, this gives a visible indication or signal that the parts have reached their normal position of rest, so that if the attendant did not happen to hear the audible signal 49, he can nevertheless observe the visible signal 65 and know that the time interval for which the timing mechanism was set has now expired;

At the expiration of the time interval, the mechanism automatically opens the switch 50, 5!, if the switch is used, or if no such automatic switch is employed, the attendant, upon hearing the bell' 49 ring, or upon observing the visible signal 65,knows that it is time to turn oil? the heating element by hand.

It is realized that the proper time of heating not only depends upon the quantity of beverage to be made, but also depends, to some extent, upon the initial temperature of the water when it is placed in the container I I, and upon the strength of coffee which it is desired to make. This, of course, can not be conveniently allowed for in a simplified practical form of timing mechanism, but the timing mechanism preferably is designed in accordance with average lengths of time required for making coffee of average strength, starting with water of average lukewarm temperature. If the user starts with hot water, he-can move the setting lever 4| not quite as far to the left as he would otherwise do, or he can move it to the proper setting at which the number of cups to be made appears through the window 62 and then turn off the heating elementby hand when he thinks the coffee has percolated long enough.

It will be seen that exceedingly simple apparatus has been provided, which eliminates many of the uncertainties heretofore present in making coffee. The quantities of water and of ground coffee to be put in are indicated by the graduations 20 and 22, respectively, while the proper length of time of heating is indicated by the timing mechanism. The user simply sets the lever ll to the point where the desired numeral (reading directly in terms of number of cups of coffee) appears through the window 62, then he releases the lever ll and the timing mechanism operates for the required length of time, after which it indicates the time for turning off the heat'by the audible signal 49 and the visible signal 65,' at the same time actually turning off the heat automatically by opening the switch 50, 5|, if such a switch is included.

Fig. 1 of thedrawings illustrates the apparatus in condition for making two cups of cofiee. The

container II is filled with water up to the level 28, which is at the height 0! the graduation 2", to indicate the water level for two cups of coffee; the coffee basket H has been filled with coflee 26 up to the graduation "2"; and the timing mechanism has been set so that numeral 2 appears through the window 62, as shown. This makes clear the great convenience and utility of these graduations.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways, This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within thespirit of the invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Coffee beverage making apparatus comprising a water holding receptacle and a coffee holding receptacle in operative relationship to each other, means for heating water in said water receptacle, timing mechanism adjacent said heating means and settable to diiferent positions for signalling various. different time intervals, graduations associated with said water receptacle for indicating various levels to which said receptacle 'the respective levels to which said receptacle should be filled with coffee for producing the various quantities of beverage respectively indicated by said graduations associated with said water receptacle, and corresponding graduations associated with said timing mechanism for indicating various different positions to which said mechanism should be set in order to signal various different time intervals respectively appropriate for heating the respective different quantities of water indicated by said graduations associated with said water receptacle.

2. Coffee beverage making apparatus comprising a water holding receptacle and a coffee holding receptacle. in operative relationship to each other, means for heating water in said water receptacle, timing mechanism adjacent said heat- .ing means and settable to different positions for said heating means will normally sufllciently heat the water to make said predetermined quantity of beverage.

ALBERT F. FISHER. HOWARD H. 'SCHQTT. 

